Lavandula plant named ‘FW Whimsical’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘FW Whimsical’, characterized by its compact and broadly upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit, dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; light red purple-colored flowers with medium to large light red purple-colored sterile flower bracts arranged on short terminal spikes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas pedunculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FW WHIMSICAL’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant: Steven Eggleton

Title: Lavandula Plant Named ‘FW Radiance’

Filed: Feb. 25, 2019

Ser. No. 16/501,145

Applicant: Steven Eggleton

Title: Lavandula Plant Named ‘FW Spellbound’

Filed: Feb. 25, 2019

Ser. No. 16/501,144

This application claims priority to the Australia Plant Breeder's Rightsapplication number 2018/038, filed Feb. 26, 2018.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant,botanically known as Lavandula stoechas pedunculata, commonly referredto as Spanish Lavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘FWWhimsical’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop new compact andfreely-flowering Lavandula plants with good garden performance andattractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination in October,2009 of Lavandula stoechas pedunculata ‘Papillon’, not patented, as thefemale or seed, parent with Lavandula stoechas pedunculata ‘SweetberryRuffles’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,447, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in WongaPark, Victoria, Australia in October, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by softwood terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Wonga Park, Victoria,Australia since December, 2014 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Lavandula plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘FW Whimsical’ as a new anddistinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Compact and broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit, dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Light red purple-colored flowers with medium to large light        red purple-colored sterile flower bracts arranged on short        terminal spikes.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Papillon’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more upright than and not as        spreading as plants of ‘Papillon’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have broader sterile flower        bracts than plants of ‘Papillon’.    -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Papillon’ differ in sterile        flower bract color as flowers of plants of the new Lavandula        have light red purple-colored sterile flower bracts whereas        flowers of plants of ‘Papillon’ have mauve- colored sterile        flower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Sweetberry Ruffles’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have shorter inflorescences than        plants of ‘Sweetberry Ruffles’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have narrower sterile flower        bracts than plants of ‘Sweetberry Ruffles’.    -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Sweetberry Ruffles’ differ        in sterile flower bract color as flowers of plants of the new        Lavandula have light red purple-colored sterile flower bracts        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Sweetberry Ruffles’ have light        pink-colored sterile flower bracts.    -   4. Plants of the new Lavandula have longer peduncles than plants        of ‘Sweetberry Ruffles’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of Lavandulastoechas pedunculata ‘FW Radiance’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 16/501,145. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘FWRadiance’ differ primarily in flower color as flowers of plants of thenew Lavandula are light red purple in color with light redpurple-colored sterile flower bracts whereas flowers of plants of ‘FWRadiance’ are light purple in color with red purple-colored sterileflower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of Lavandulastoechas pedunculata ‘FW Spellbound’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 16/501,144. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘FWSpellbound’ differ primarily in flower color as flowers of plants of thenew Lavandula are light red purple in color with light redpurple-colored sterile flower bracts whereas flowers of plants of ‘FWSpellbound’ are greyed purple in color with purple violet-coloredsterile flower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandulastoechas ‘Boysenberry Ruffles’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,256.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differprimarily from plants of ‘Boysenberry Ruffles’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have longer sterile flower bracts        than plants of ‘Boysenberry Ruffles’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Boysenberry Ruffles’ differ        in sterile flower bract color as flowers of plants of the new        Lavandula have light red purple-colored sterile flower bracts        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Boysenberry Ruffles’ have        pink-colored sterile flower bracts.    -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have longer peduncles than plants        of ‘Boysenberry Ruffles’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of theLavandula stoechas ‘Sensation White’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of‘Sensation White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula have longer sterile flower bracts        than plants of ‘Sensation White’.    -   2. Sterile flower bracts of plants of the new Lavandula are more        spreading than and not as upright as sterile flower bracts than        plants of ‘Sensation White’.    -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Sensation White’ differ in        sterile flower bract color as flowers of plants of the new        Lavandula have light red purple-colored sterile flower bracts        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Sensation White’ have        white-colored sterile flower bracts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘FW Whimsical’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘FW Whimsical’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detaileddescription were grown in 1.5-liter containers during the late spring inan outdoor nursery in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plants werepinched two times and were one year old when the photographs anddescription were taken. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 10° C. to 40° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom −1° C. to 20° C. In the following description, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas pedunculata ‘FW    Whimsical’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas pedunculata            ‘Papillon’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lavandula stoechas pedunculata            ‘Sweetberry Ruffles’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.            22,447.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal softwood vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 to 28            days at temperatures ranging from 23° C. to 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 to 40            days at temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to light            brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and            broadly upright plant habit; roughly globular to broadly            ovate in overall shape; moderately vigorous growth habit;            moderate growth rate; flowers arranged in verticillasters on            terminal spikes.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 16.3            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 22.6            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 21.3 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About nine            primary lateral branches each with about ten secondary            branches developing per plant during the flowering season.            Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Internode            length: About 2.9 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect:            Upright to somewhat outwardly. Texture and luster: Densely            tomentose; slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144B            to 144C; at the internodes, between 143C and 144B. Color,            developed: Close to 199B and 199C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.            Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Narrowly            oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire;            slightly to moderately revolute. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Moderately to densely pubescent; matte. Fragrance:            Strongly aromatic, pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B to NN137C;            venation, close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform            flowers arranged in verticillasters on terminal cylindrical            spikes; freely flowering habit with about 60 to 100 flowers            developing in four to twelve whorls per inflorescence and            about 50 inflorescences developing per plant; flowers with            two-lobed upper lip and three-lobed lower lip; flowers face            mostly outwardly on the spike.        -   Natural flowering season.—Relatively long flowering period;            continuous from late winter to late spring/early summer in            Australia.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about            one to two months on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Resinous.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Elliptic. Color: Close to 143A to 143B.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.8 cm, excluding terminal            bracts.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.3 cm, excluding terminal            bracts.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 mm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 8 mm, including tube.        -   Flower tube length.—About 6 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 1 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and            lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper and lower lips: About            2.9 mm. Width, upper and lower lips: About 1.8 mm. Shape,            upper lip: Obovate. Shape, lower lip: Ovate. Apex, upper and            lower lips: Obtuse, rounded. Margin, upper and lower lips:            Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper (inner)            surface, upper and lower lips: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower (outer) surface,            upper and lower lips: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;            slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower lips: When opening,            upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Close to 69C to            69D. Fully opened, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces:            Close to 69B to 69C; color becoming closer to 69A with            development.        -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of            flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract. Length:            About 1 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Cordate. Apex:            Cuspidate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘FWWhimsical’ as illustrated and described.